It’s not a secret that good planning is a very important part of a trip’s success.
For me, there is nothing more special than surprising my family during the trip with something that is completely unexpected for them.
For example, on a recent road trip, we needed to spend the night in what was really the middle of nowhere.
Even though we were on our way to our destination, what made that night special was that we surrounded by mountains.
Which, by itself, was something very different for everyone.
Even though the hotel was nothing to write home about, the experience we had during the night we spent there, was very special.
When we arrived, the gentleman at the front desk informed my children that in the hotel courtyard, we could roast marshmallows and prepare hot chocolate.
The smile on their faces was priceless.
Needless to say, that became one of the favorite moments of trip and today represents one of the most fun memories of our adventure.
The idea of traveling has always been related to the opportunity to have new experiences
But today, if your business offers services in the tourism industry, it is even more important to communicate the benefit of the experience.
Exactly what do I mean by the benefit of experience?
The hotel that we stayed in, definitely did a good job describing the experience, because after I read the description on their website, I was immediately convinced that my family would enjoy spending the night there.
The most important lesson
It is true that thanks to technology, now we can plan everything online, from buying tickets, booking hotels, buying tickets for museums, theaters and the continuous list.
It is true that all this is possible.
But the impact goes much further than listing each of these benefits
As someone who enjoys traveling, the biggest benefit of using the technology when traveling is in the way how our travel experience is enriched.
Thanks to technology, we now have the possibility to visit remote places, which we would not have been able to access before.
We can have the best experiences when it comes to adventures, museums, rides, activities and of course food.
Now we can enjoy the best of the city or place of our destination, because the information can literally be found in the palm of our hands.
This has changed the way we travel and the range of experiences we can all have.
It is not enough to include a list of benefits
You need to be able to translate the benefits into experiences.
That’s exactly what will help people in your audience make the decision to hire the services that you offer.
Because it will allow them to have a clear vision that this is the experience they want to have.
That’s exactly what the hotel were we stayed did, when describing the mountain experience we could have.
How has technology changed the travel industry (3 marketing lessons for your service based business)
1. Are you doing a good job communicating the value of your services?
You need to communicate your message in a simple and direct way.
Don’t try to write a message to impress, you need to use same language that your audience uses when speaking.
Write about the experiences that people can have using your services, for example: how will their time will be best used, how entertaining and fun it can be, how comfortable it will be, the opportunity they will have to experience the best food and the list goes on.
What helps your audience decide which activity to do, is the value they perceive the experience offers.
Avoid the following common error
Do not talk about your business and your experience. The first thing you need do is put yourself in the place of your audience and use the voice of your audience to describe your services.
2. Is your business visible and easy to find on the Internet?
Needless to say, an image speaks more than a thousand words, use images and photographs that visually communicate the benefits of experience.
It does not matter if you have best message, if it is not seen by your audience
You must promote your website in Google and Social Media.
Avoid the following common error
When I talk about promotion, I mean creating valuable content that helps your audience and at the same time sparks their curiosity, so that they feel they want to know more about your services.
3. How does your service enrich the experience of your audience?
It’s no secret that people don’t have time, this means, you just have a a few seconds to make an impression and spark their curiosity.
Avoid the following common error
Present the information in the form and format that your audience needs it.
In other words, you should make information easy to find, include pricing, hours, and an easy way to make the payment.
I created an infographic that illustrates how has technology changed the travel industry (3 marketing lessons for your service based business)
Although the possibility of new experiences when traveling is nothing new.
Today, if your business is related to the tourism industry, it is essential that you learn how to communicate the benefit of the experience that you offer.
Your audience has many options to choose from, all in the palm of their hand.
But the truth is that people will be moved to choose the option that best matches the expectations of the experience they wish to have.
The question you need ask yourself is:
Are you doing a good job describing the experience for your audience?
Remember they are looking for more than just a place to eat and sleep.
